Getting ready to graduate college, no healthcare. Questions.

Can we please keep politics out of this serious inquiry. I am getting ready to graduate college and will be 24 when I do so. I won't have a job with health insurance at that time and won't have any other forms of health insurance and I am poor.

Question is this: with the current state of health insurance laws (obamacare) etc. what does that mean for me? I remember hearing that if you didn't have insurance you would get penalized/taxed. Is that something I need to be concerned about? Do I HAVE to have insurance and if so where do I get it? I remember there was supposed to be new stipulations in the new health insurance laws that amounted to something close to universal healthcare. Is there such a thing?

I plan on contacting my state representative's office to ask these questions but thought someone on here might have some answers. Thanks.

I'm not clear on this topic either but I think this goes into effect by 2015, not researching it ATM. There are pretty cheap options out there for just medical insurance that does not include vision and dental.

Ill look into it later and link some options. My wife is in the medical field and will know some cheaper options.

Thanks for the replies guys. I did a little research on it as well and think I may have found some answers. The only real option I have right now is to get on my mothers insurance through her work but that would cost me 1400 a year definitely don't have that kind of money. But I guess it would be cheaper than paying out of pocket if something happens to me.

Thanks for the replies guys. I did a little research on it as well and think I may have found some answers. The only real option I have right now is to get on my mothers insurance through her work but that would cost me 1400 a year definitely don't have that kind of money. But I guess it would be cheaper than paying out of pocket if something happens to me.

Doesn't go into effect until 2014, and there are subsidies based on income.

Doesn't go into effect until 2014, and there are subsidies based on income.

Yeah I won't face any penalties anytime soon. Even when they do kick in it seems as though the really poor are protected from them which would most likely include me as well. My plan is to become a high school teacher but there aren't exactly a lot of openings right now so until I find a job I'll just be substituting.

Thanks for the replies guys. I did a little research on it as well and think I may have found some answers. The only real option I have right now is to get on my mothers insurance through her work but that would cost me 1400 a year definitely don't have that kind of money. But I guess it would be cheaper than paying out of pocket if something happens to me.

1400 per year is cheap for health insurance. You should snatch that up. The government subsidized insurance going into effect in 2014 will still probably cost more than that.

Buy some catastrophic medical insurance with 10,000 deductible. Should be pretty cheap for you. Not sure if they offer higher deductibles now or not. A good agent is the way to start. Your mother's policy is an alternative.

Thanks for the replies guys. I did a little research on it as well and think I may have found some answers. The only real option I have right now is to get on my mothers insurance through her work but that would cost me 1400 a year definitely don't have that kind of money. But I guess it would be cheaper than paying out of pocket if something happens to me.

That is cheap my part of the premium at work is roughly 7k a year for a family of four and that is not counting the part my work pays on the premium. Then add in deductibles and co pays which by the way have gone up. All said in done even with insurance I pay close to 8k-10k a year by the time you add in deductibles and copays depending on what happens in the year.

Like last year my wife had to have surgery and my son I had to take to the ER for taking a helmet under the chin during his football game.

Yeah I won't face any penalties anytime soon. Even when they do kick in it seems as though the really poor are protected from them which would most likely include me as well. My plan is to become a high school teacher but there aren't exactly a lot of openings right now so until I find a job I'll just be substituting.

...if you would ever consider this, but right now in the part of Canada where I live the starting grid for a full time teacher is 58,000 and ends 11 tiers later at 88000.

After 10 years you hit the max in the grid and after 30 years you reach full pension.

Pension is rated at 78% of the highest average five years of service.

During your time in the system you are eligible to ungrade your education with either a masters or PHD in the education field at no cost to you and can then enter into administration.

Most admin jobs peak out at the highest grid of 110,000 for a principal and upper admin is 120,000 to 160,000 dependent on position.

You work only 10 months of the year earn up to 10 sick days per year which are bankable up to 40 before they are reduced to the max limit.

Health insurance is the highest level possible on full dental, vision and ancillaries such as massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, etc. What I am really saying is the benefits are amazing.

For a young teacher, especially American you would have to be willing to work in a isolated situation, but it doesn't take long to advance if you are a hard worker and a conscientious person.

Right now in Western Canada we are the strongest economy in the world with a bounty of mining, oil and gas and food resources. There is a lot of money and few young people to man all the skilled labour we need.

...if you would ever consider this, but right now in the part of Canada where I live the starting grid for a full time teacher is 58,000 and ends 11 tiers later at 88000.

After 10 years you hit the max in the grid and after 30 years you reach full pension.

Pension is rated at 78% of the highest average five years of service.

During your time in the system you are eligible to ungrade your education with either a masters or PHD in the education field at no cost to you and can then enter into administration.

Most admin jobs peak out at the highest grid of 110,000 for a principal and upper admin is 120,000 to 160,000 dependent on position.

You work only 10 months of the year earn up to 10 sick days per year which are bankable up to 40 before they are reduced to the max limit.

Health insurance is the highest level possible on full dental, vision and ancillaries such as massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, etc. What I am really saying is the benefits are amazing.

For a young teacher, especially American you would have to be willing to work in a isolated situation, but it doesn't take long to advance if you are a hard worker and a conscientious person.

Right now in Western Canada we are the strongest economy in the world with a bounty of mining, oil and gas and food resources. There is a lot of money and few young people to man all the skilled labour we need.

Teachers in rural areas are in demand.

Something for you to consider if you are adventurous.

All of that sounds incredible but I studied mostly American history in college so I don't see how well that would translate into a teaching job in Canada.:laugh2: